Milford's Kenneth Bradford tries to break a tackle during the Spartans' game Saturday at Manchester West. Milford lost to West, 47-0, for the first time in program history. (Photo by Joe Marchilena/NH-HighSchoolSports.com)

MANCHESTER — Manchester West led by four touchdowns at halftime and cruised to a 47-0 victory over Milford in Division II football action at William Bill Meisel Veterans Memorial Field Saturday.

Milford was 9-0 all-time against West coming into the game. The rivalry dates back to 1991. Milford beat West, 32-0, last fall.

Milford dropped to 1-4 on the season. Manchester West improved to 4-1.

West led 20-0 only 5:34 into the game. And it could have been a lot worse were it not for the Blue Knights’ own penalty woes later in the first half. The hosts saw four touchdowns negated because of penalties. They had one more turned away because of a penalty in the second half for five total touchdown-callbacks.

“I think first and foremost we were not ready to go, and we’ve gotten off to very slow starts every game,” Milford coach Max Morelli said. “And we are not, as most teams aren’t, able to just show up and roll out of bed, roll the balls out and win.

“We can’t spot teams like that. Our tackling is very bad. We were just talking (post-game with coaches) about all the different ways that we have to change what we’re doing because it’s not working.”

Milford struggled to move the ball all day and was also hurt by turnovers. Jace Wilhelmi led the way rushing for the Spartans with 39 yards.

The Spartans had a glimmer of hope putting points on the board on its final drive of the first half, but quarterback Brady O’Connor’s (11-for-17, 60 yards) pass was knocked down by West defenders in the hosts’ end zone.

West got on the scoreboard on the first play from scrimmage — Ke’Shawn Foster’s 64-yard touchdown run down the right sideline.

The Blue Knights doubled their lead when Ellas Abreau took a pitch to the right side and went in from 45 yards out later in the first quarter.

A third Blue Knight back — Logan Paradise — found the end zone from 22 yards away just 1:34 later after Milford turned the ball over with a fumble.

After the yellow flags nixed four touchdowns, West got back on the scoreboard when quarterback Gio Doria (10-for-12, 123 yards) found Abreau in the end zone for a 10-yard TD pass and a 26-0 lead.

Milford, desperate to get some momentum on the prior drive, tried to convert on a 4th-and-3 from its own 23 but fell shy.

West rushed for 148 yards in the first quarter and 25 more in the second while holding Milford to just 30 yards on the ground and 56 in the air in the opening two quarters. Milford quarterback O’Connor showed flashes going 8-for-13 in the first half.

Coach Morelli praised Eli Gutierrez, an offensive and defensive lineman who “played really hard.”

“He was good on offense,” the coach added, “and he was really impactful playing nose on defense. He had a great game, and it was great to see that.”

Morelli also noted freshman linebacker Wilhelmi’s play, saying he’s been the team’s best player on defense.

Jarome Henert (28-yarder) and Terrance Bovill (13-yard touchdown reception from Doria) had touchdowns in the third quarter for West. Edwin Cruz added an 8-yard TD run for Manchester in the fourth.

Milford came into the game at 1-3, its three losses by an average of 37.6 points. Its one win came against Hollis-Brookline, 48-22.West opened the season with three wins before dropping its first to Souhegan last week.

West stays home to take on defending champion Pelham next Saturday at 1 p.m. Milford is back at home facing off against 5-0 Souhegan Friday at 7 p.m.